title: FIZZ1 plays a crucial role in early stage airway remodeling of OVA-induced asthma.
abstract: The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Found in Inflammatory Zone 1 (FIZZ1, also known as RELM-alpha or resistin-like molecule-alpha) in airway remodeling in asthma. We used a rat model of ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge to induce lung inflammation and remodeling. Expression of alpha -SMA in the lungs of OVA-treated rats was significantly elevated in the peribronchial regions compared with control saline-treated animals. Expression of FIZZ1 mRNA in alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECII) isolated from OVA-treated animals was higher than in control animals. Forced expression of recombinant FIZZ1 in rat-1 lung fibroblast cell line enhanced production of collagen type I and alpha -SMA compared with control transfected cells. These results suggest that FIZZ1 can induce fibroblasts to express markers of myofibroblast differentiation such as alpha -SMA and collagen type I, which are characteristic of early stages of airway remodeling seen in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China. dl5506@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Shu-Juan
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Camoretti-Mercado
authors.forename: Hong-Jia
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Xiang
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Bi
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D024042:Collagen Type I; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C486575:Retnla protein, rat; D010047:Ovalbumin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor